Wise Children Essay -- English Literature

Wise Children Essay Angela Carter uses a variety of methods and techniques to present events and characters in an interesting way in chapter 1. By using Dora’s voice she is able to express the character’s viewpoint and introduce the reader to the story at a pace and style that not only establishes other characters but from how language is used the reader can create a personality for Dora also. The novel starts with a question to slowly introduce the reader into the idea of the legitimacy and illegitimacy. ‘WHY is London like Budapest? A. Because it two cities divided by a river. Dora uses London to immediately explain how her and Dora live on the ‘bastard side of Old Father Thames’, not just literally but as illegitimate children it is a metaphor for their situation. Carter uses these parallels of the North and South divide to explain how Nora and Dora are from ‘the wrong side of the tracks.’ and can also help the reader to relate and empathise with Dora and Nora’s position. The novel does not follow a chronological timeline, but is a non-linear narrative jumping back and forth between what is happening on the twin’s 75th birthday and events that have taken place in the past. The first main event in the novel is the arrival of the invitation to Melchior Hazards birthday party, not only does it introduce some action, but also other characters into the play and allows Carter to tell the reader some information on Dora’s situation, that Melchior Hazard is her father and who ‘Wheelchair’ is. Carter uses plot very effectively in the first chapter; she offers part of the story and then holds back, when Tristram is showing the video recording, ‘Freeze –frame’. This allows Carter to explain the famil... ...llen’, Dora is mocking the demise of the Hazard family, the once great Shakespearian act reduced to a host on a tacky game show. Dora pours scorn on the idea that the Hazard family are the height of respectability and legitimacy: ‘Speaking of illegitimacy, there was more than a hint of romantic, nay, melodramatic illegitimacy in the Hazard family long before Nora and myself took our first bows’, she breaks down the social barriers between the two families, lowering them to her status by revealing that even families of good reputation hide dark secrets. By the end of chapter 1 different questions gave been raised for the reader that now need answering, these questions create tensions that encourage the reader to find out more. The plot development within the first chapter portray not only the events, but as they are seen through Dora shape her character.